Betty Jane “B.J.” <I>Phillips</I> Kessel

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Betty Jane “B.J.” Phillips Kessel

Birth
Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA
Death
2 Apr 2002 (aged 74)
Rancho Mirage, Riverside County, California, USA
Burial
Burial Details Unknown Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Singer. Born Betty Jane Phillips. Miss Alabama in 1944 and 4th runner up in the 1944 Miss America Pageant. Second wife of actor Mickey Rooney, (1944-1949) and mother of actor Tim Rooney. Back-up vocalist for Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, The Righteous Brothers, Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra.
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Betty Jane Baker was a singer, songwriter and vocal contractor who worked as a backup singer on recordings by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, The Righteous Brothers and Sam Cooke, among others. She also sang on the radio, with big bands and did voice work for television and films and appeared on television variety shows. From the 1940s, Baker sang in big bands and on the radio, and in the 1960s, she appeared in several television shows, including the variety shows of Dean Martin and Judy Garland. She backed Elvis Presley in his recording of "Can't Help Falling in Love", Lloyd Price in "Stagger Lee", Sam Cooke in "You Send Me", Bobby Darin in "Dream Lover", Frank Sinatra in "That's Life", Jackie Wilson in "Baby Workout", The Righteous Brothers in "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and Nancy Sinatra on her 1969 album Nancy. She also was well regarded as a vocal contractor for backup singers and recorded extensively with the Anita Kerr Singers.
Singer. Born Betty Jane Phillips. Miss Alabama in 1944 and 4th runner up in the 1944 Miss America Pageant. Second wife of actor Mickey Rooney, (1944-1949) and mother of actor Tim Rooney. Back-up vocalist for Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, The Righteous Brothers, Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra.
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Betty Jane Baker was a singer, songwriter and vocal contractor who worked as a backup singer on recordings by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, The Righteous Brothers and Sam Cooke, among others. She also sang on the radio, with big bands and did voice work for television and films and appeared on television variety shows. From the 1940s, Baker sang in big bands and on the radio, and in the 1960s, she appeared in several television shows, including the variety shows of Dean Martin and Judy Garland. She backed Elvis Presley in his recording of "Can't Help Falling in Love", Lloyd Price in "Stagger Lee", Sam Cooke in "You Send Me", Bobby Darin in "Dream Lover", Frank Sinatra in "That's Life", Jackie Wilson in "Baby Workout", The Righteous Brothers in "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and Nancy Sinatra on her 1969 album Nancy. She also was well regarded as a vocal contractor for backup singers and recorded extensively with the Anita Kerr Singers.


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